Israelis Line the Streets to Mourn Bibas Family

ESCONDIDO, California — Today, February 26, 2025, thousands of Israelis gathered to mourn and honor the lives of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, during a heartfelt funeral procession. The family had been abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a devastating attack on southern Israel, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of 251 hostages.

The procession commenced in Rishon LeZion, with mourners lining the streets, many holding orange balloons—a symbol representing the red hair of the Bibas children. The route passed through several towns, culminating in a private burial ceremony near their family home in Nir Oz, which is part of San Diego’s sister municipality of Sha’ar HaNegev. The public was invited to pay their respects along the procession route, reflecting the profound impact this tragedy has had on the nation.

Yarden Bibas, the father and husband who was released from captivity earlier this month, delivered an emotional eulogy, expressing his deep sorrow and love for his lost family. While holding back tears, he spoke about his love for Shiri and shared an anecdote from when he first said, “Mi Amor” to her. Stating that he already loved her. He shared how his world changed with the birth of Ariel and how his perfect family became even more so with the birth of Kfir.

The return of the Bibas family’s remains was part of a broader ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas handed over the bodies last week, claiming they died in airstrikes; however, Israeli forensic investigations indicated they were murdered by their captors. Shocking forensic reports revealed that the Bibas babies were brutally murdered via strangulation by the bare hands of terrorists.

When the bodies were returned to Israel, they arrived in locked coffins with no keys and a chilling note on each stating that they are prisoners as of October 7, 2023. In a further act of cruelty, Hamas attempted to deceive Israel by providing the body of an unidentified Gazan woman, falsely presenting her remains as those of Shiri Bibas. Shiri was ultimately returned the following day after an uproar for the deception.

This tragic event has intensified national mourning and sparked discussions about the government’s handling of hostage situations. The idea of clearing Gaza has gained more support after finding out the children were in fact murdered.

The funeral coincided with ongoing negotiations aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages and the return of bodies still held by Hamas. International mediators have been actively involved in facilitating these exchanges, with hopes that continued dialogue will bring closure to affected families and contribute to lasting peace in the region.

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Miriam Gershenson, an Israeli-American, is a freelance writer based in Escondido, California.